Flow meter system



l2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y A INVENTOR. l? erwaoa,

. wlm m/l l W w ww UKW, a M A M l ATTORNEY.

Nov. 2l,` 1939. y c, sHERwooD E 2,181,075;

FLow METER SYSTEM Filed Apg, a, 19:54 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR. Bhr/all gfzmad,

PstentedNsv. 21, 1939 2,181,015 now Maren SYSTEM Carroll P. Sherwood, Camden, N. J.

Application August 8,-

6 Claims.

The invention relates to iiow meter systems and involves certain-new and useful combinations -of elements for continuously and accurately indicating the rate of flow of a iiuid, as well as certain improvementsin the elements of the combinations.

As disclosed herein, the invention is particularly adapted for use in indicating the rate of con- .sumption of a combustible -liquid, such as gasoline, by internal combustion engines utilized for propelling automobiles, motor-boats, airplanes and other vehicles.

In the operation of engines of such character, it is customary to provide a fuel supply tank located at a distance from the engine and to convey the fuel from the supply tank to the engine through a suitable fuel pipe. It is also customary to utilize in the operation of such engines a source of electric current, such as a battery and/or a generator, the available energy from which necessarily varies from time to time in accordance with the condition of the source of energy orthe charging rate of the generator, and the various purposes for which current may be utilized at any particular time. The relative positions of the fuel supply tank, the engine, and the operator of the vehicle make it difilcult to so`locate the fuel line as to render a iiow indicator connected therein directly visiblel to the operator. For this and other reasons an electrically operated indicator is preferable, as the indicator itself may be readily positioned within the view of the operator and suitably connected to a remote metering device Y -so arranged as to be operated in response to changes in the rate of ow of the fuel in the fuel line. I

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a simple and compact system for continuously indicating the rate of flow of a liquid such as gasoline or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a iiow meter system which indicates with reasonable accuracy the rate of flowl of the liquid notwithstanding shocks and other physical disturbances to which the while in use.

The invention has for a still further object the system may be subjected provision in a flow meter structure ofimproved .means for practically eliminating the effects of shocks or physical disturbances upon the operation of the metering device as well as upon the operation of the indicating means employed therewith.

Still 'other objects and advantages of theimprovements will be apparent from the following description. taken with the accompanying drawings wherein;

Fig. l is a diagrammatic elevational view of my `improved flow meter system; i

1934, serial N0. vasss.

(ci 'za-zes) Fig. 7 is a longitudinal view, partly-brokenA away, of the resistance element utilized in the system;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view through the resistance element shown in Fig. `'7; and

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view showinga modified construction of the inlet end of the iiow chamber.

As illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. l of the drawings my improved system is adapted for the purpose of indicating the rate of flow of fuel such as gasoline or thelike between a source of fuel supply.' and the internalcombustion engine of an automobile or similar vehicle, and comprises a flow chamber III connected in the fuel line II between the source of supply and the carburetor; an eliminating device I2 for gases, connected in the fuel line II between the source of fuel supply and the ow chamber I; an electrical circuit ber I8 during the operation of the system and when this rate is in excess of a predetermined As shown in Fig. 2 the flow chamber III is formed by a lower cylindrical casing section I6 having anoutwardly extending flange Il on they upper 'end thereof which is securedby bolts I8 or otherwise to an outwardly extending flange I9 on the lower end of an upper cylin'drical casing section 2t, with a gasket 2| of suitable material interposed between the two' flanges. Although lt may be made of other suitable material, as I havedisclosed the same herein the lower casing section I 6 is made of cast iron with a tubular inlet member 22 projecting upwardly therein aroundl the in ie't opening 2l and spaced uniformly from the outer wail to provide a dashpot cistern 24 in open communication at its upper Suspended within the tubular member 22 upon the lower end of a connecting rod 25 is a weight member 26 having a metering disc 21 fitted upon the reduced lower end thereoLThe metering disc 21 is preferably constructed of metaland is insulated from the weight member 20 as shown at 28 when the weight member is ofmetallic construction. A disc 29 of suitable insulating material is provided with a projecting hub I0 within which the upper end of the connecting rod 25 is rigidly secured. Each ofv a pair of oppositely arranged supporting rods 3I has its upper end bent laterally as shown at 32 and is rigidly secured within a suitable opening in the disc 29. The supporting rods 3| extend downwardly in the dashpot cistern \24 and, as shown herein, the lower endsthereof engage within eyes 33 secured diametrically in the upper end of an annular piston 34 freely movable within the cistern' 24. The outer face of the piston 34 is provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves 25 which serve to permit any small particles of dirt in thev gasoline to work downwardly past the piston so as not to interfere with its proper operation.

Rigidly secured to the upper face oi.' the disc 28 for longitudinal movement within the upper section 20 of the flow chamber is a movable contactor comprising a transversely extending support 36 having a rigid contact shoe 31 extending laterally from one end thereof and a relatively movable contact shoe pivoted at Il to its opposite end. The support 3i is rigidly secured to the disc 29 by means ofy a headed pin 40 passing through acentral opening inthe support and securely engaging within an opening in the upper face of the disc 29. A small coiled expansion spring 4I having one end secured to a boss 42 riveted or otherwise secured to the rigid contact shoe 31 and its opposite end secured to a boss 4I riveted or. otherwise secured tothe pivoted contact shoe 438 serves to spread the contact shoes and keep them in engagement with a stationary contact strip 44 and a stationary resistance strip 45 supported longitudinally within the upper sec* tion 20 of the ilow chamber.

The upper section 20 of the ilow chamber casing is preferably molded from suitable insulating material, and isso constructed as to provide oppositely arranged channels extending lengthwise of the wall thereof and having overhanging edge portions' 41 forming oppositely arranged slots 48 through which the channels open -to the interior of the casing section. and which serve as guideways for the movable contactor.

. TheV contact strip 44 may be made of brass and is of such cross-section as to provide a comparatively tight frictional fit within its channel 4I. The resistance strip 4l is likewise so formed as 'to ilt snugly withiny its channel 46. By'forming the channels 48 in the casing section 2l when the section is molded, .the channels Lmay readily be made parallel `throughout their length, and the parallelism lof the contact strip 44 and theresistance strip 4I'will be maintairieil'v notwithstanding such-changes in -'temperature 'as would tend to warp or bow these strips if they were rigidly secured at spaced points to the wall of the casing. the maintenance of parallism being im portant in order to insure proper operation of the movable contactor.

'I'he upper end of the contact strip 44 has secured thereto by a screw 49 or other suitable means a short conductor wire 60 having its outer end soldered or otherwise secured in conducting relation within a terminal bushing 5l molded in the upper end of the casing section 20 and provided with a lock nut 52 by means of which the wiring connection 53 may be made with the indicator I l5. The indicator may be grounded through thev connection 54 in a well known manner.

A uid outlet bushing 55 to which the fuel line Il is connected is molded in the upper end of the section 20. A bushing 56 is also molded in the upper end of the casing section 20 to serve as a terminal for the resistance strip 45. This terminal may also be provided with a lock nut 52' by means of which a wiring connection may be made with the regulator i4. A short conductor wire '61 solderedin the bushing 56 has its lower end soldered or otherwise connected to a stationary contact member 58 preferably riveted to :the upper end of the core S9 of the resistance strip Another stationary contact member 60 spaced from the contact member 58 is likewise riveted to the core 59 and has the upper end of the resistance wire Si soldered thereto. The lower end of the resistance wire 6I is preferably grounded by connecting it to the metallic lower casing section I6. As shown herein, it is connected to the tubular member 22 by means of one of a pair of oppositely arranged screws 62 which serve as stops to limit the movement of the piston 34 and the contactor in an upward direction. The extension of the tubular member 22 outwardly of casing sectionl I8 facilitates the connection of the' wire 6| in assembling the device. u

The core 59 of the resistance lstrip 45 is preferably made of suitabl'einsulating material and is provided with a groove 63 extending lengthwise of one face thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 7. 'I'he resistance wire 6I is spirally wound upon the core and the opposite ends are looped through openings 64 extending transverselyi through the core and connecting with the groove 83. The coils of the winding are thendepressed into the groove 63 by means of a suitable tool.

vWhen assembledy in casing section 20, the upper end of the wire is connected to the lower stationary contact 80 while the lower end is grounded by connecting it to the metallic tubular member 22 in the manner hereinbefore described. By making the resistance strip in this manner the coils are drawn tightly about the core thus preventing any endwise movement thereof, and

movable contactor in its movement over the re' sistance strip 45 within theflow chamber.

lThe relative diameters of the interiorly tapered tubular member 22 and the metering disc 2i are such that when the metering disc is in its lowermost position as shown by the draw-- ings the orifice or passageway between the metering disc and the wall of the tube will permit a slight' flow of gasoline therethrough, itl being advisable to provide for such a flow in order to prevent any interference with the free movement of the metering disc such as would be likelyu to result by entirely closing the oriilce. 1118 disc is supported in its lowermost position The meterper end to which the fuel line leading from by the engagement of the disc29 on the upper end of the connecting rod 25 with a disc 56 on the lower end of a switch actuating rod 61 the lowerv end of which is guided in an opening in a small bracket 68 secured to the wall of the( upper casing section by means of a screw 55, and the upper end of which is guided in an opening in the stationary contact member 80. 'I'he upper end of the switch operating rod 61 is provided with a contact head 10 movable to and from the stationary contact 58 to make and break the circuit from the battery I3 to the resistance 45 in the flow chamber. A small coiled spring 1I between the contact head 1.0 and the. stationary contact SII operates to move the head 10 into contact with the vstationary contact 58 as soon as there is suilicient .flow of gasoline through the device to raise the metering disc 21 and thereby lift the disc 28 out of engagement -with the disc 68. on the lowe'i` end of the switch operating rod 61.

The available electrical systems of automobiles, motor-boats, airplanes and the like are subject to such fluctuations in voltage as to render an electrically-operated flow. meter system of little practical value when .utilized therewith unless proper provision is made for so controlling the current utilized in the operation of the flow meter as to impress a substantially constant voltage thereon. It is also advisable to utilize a minimum voltage, particularly where the variable l"resistance unit of the structure andthe makeand-break switch are located within the ilow chamber and are thus exposed to the gasoline iiowingtherethrugh. I therefore connect in the electrical circuit between the battery I 3 and the terminal 56 of the resistance strip 45 a voltage regulator I4 designed to deliver a substantially' constant current to the resistance strip.

This regulator may be in the form of an elec tric lamp having an iron lament.- Theproperties of iron are such that, while the resistance of an iron iilament increases with the temperature, at acertain point in the temperaturescale the resistance increases much more rapidly. At this point, therefore; the iron lament acts as a current regulator when subjected to varying voltage with the result that a substantially constant current may be obtained notwithstanding variations in voltage. If, for example.the resistance oi the wire 5I is 25 ohms and an iron filament is utilized which will pass a current of .2 ampere, a'potential diil'erence of 5 volts will --be produced across the ends oi the-wire 6I, and

this. will remain practically constant in spite of variations in battery voltage. With a voltage -trap or eliminator regulatorv connected in the circuit in Ythis manner, and constructed to impress upon the resistance 45 a constant voltage approximating ythe lowest voltage at which theavailable electrical system is likely to be utilized, due. either to a partially exhausted battery or to the use lighting systems,F there is little likelihood of an. electric arc oi' suilicient strength being produced bythe action of the movable contactor or the make-and-break switch to vignite any gasoline vapor which maybe present in the flow-chamber Il.L

As an additional safety factor, I have provided means Ior'eliminating gases such as air and gasoline yvapor i'rom the gasoline before it reaches the metering device. This means is in the form of a I2 comprising a casing 12 preferably arranged at or above the upper level of the iiow chamber Il and having aninlet 15 in its up,

the rate the sourceoi gasoline supply is connected, and an outlet 14 at its lower end from which a section of the fuel line leads to the inlet 23 in the lower end of the ow chamber I0. The casing 12 is pro- 5` vided with a vent 'opening 15 iniits upper end controlled by a needle valve 16 which is connected v to a pivoted lever 11 operated by a .iloat 18 within the casing. 'I'he float and needle valve are so arranged that.. when the ievei of the' liquid in the l0 casing drops to a certain point the valve will open and thereby permit the escape of gasessuch as air and gasoline vapor through the vent opening. Upon the escape of airand vapor from the easing 12 the ievei of the liquid rises in the easing 15 thereby liftingthe oat and closing the escape valve. Theelimination of these gases avoids any danger which might result from possible arcing within the ilow chamber III by the operation oi the movable contactor or the make-and-break .zo switch. By elevating the eliminating device I2` so that the inlet 13 is at the level of or above thev outlet from the `fiow chamber I0, the latter fo'rms a trap which remains full of gasoline wheniiow thereof through the device is discontalnued. In 25 other words, the ilow chamber I0 will be completely lled with gasolineat all times. This construction not only prevents the undesirable eiects upon the indicating means. of the passage of air and vapor through the iiow meter, but it eliminates any danger which might result from the passage of air and gasoline vapor into the flow chamber, or their accumulation therein, exposed to the action'of the movable contactor and the circuit interrupting switch.

In the form of ilow chamber illustrated in Figs.

1 and 2 of the drawings, the tubular inlet 22 is formed integrally with the casing section I8. A.

modied construction is shown in Fig. 9 wherein the tubular inlet 22' is formed integrally with a 40 plug 19 having a threaded opening for connection to the section oi the fuel line leading lfrom the eliminator I2. This plug forms the bottom wall for the casing section I6', to which it may be secured. by screws passing therethrough into 45 the wall of the casing section.

In the operation of the system disclosed herein gasoline is delivered from the usual supply tank through the fuel line to the air and vapor eliminating device I2 by means o'f a vacuum feed de- 5 vice or--a positively acting pump. With the air and vapor' eliminated therefrom by the eliminaytor I2, the gasoline is then' delivered to the lowerA it will be apparent. that variations in the ilow of gasoline through the tubular inlet member 22 will position the metering disc 21. to accord with the rate of iiow. l

The movements of the metering disc 21 are 35 transmitted through the rod 25 to the movable contactor carried by the disc 25, and the pivoted contact shoe is thereby moved lengthwise over the resistance strip 45 in response to changes in' of ilow of the gasoline through the iiow 70 chamber Il. The movement of the. contactor along the resistance strip l operates to .vary the resistance in the circuit of the indicator I 5 in awell-known'manner, and the 'rate of ilow of uthe gasoline in gallons per hour or other desired 75 d units may be obtained at any moment from the reading of the indicator Il.

As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the rigid contact shoe 31 engages with the contact strip M within the longitudinally extending groove 65', and the pivoted contact shoe 38- engages within a longitudinally extending ilepression in the windings of the resistance wire 6i formed by depressing the windings within the 1o groove 63 in the core 59. The engagement; of

the contact shoes within 'the grooves of the contact strip and the resistance strip serves to guide the movable contacter and the metering disc in l their movements corresponding to variations -in '2o being dislodged from their engagement with the contact strip and the resistance strip by the overhanging edges 41 which form the slots 4I within which the contact shoes operate. It will be understood, however, that thesecontact shoes are 25 out of engagement with the overhanging edges 35 Fig. 2, the dashpot through 41 during the normal operation of the system, and that this particular structure merely serves to prevent the contact shoes from being entirely dislodged from the contact strip and the resist- 50 ance strip when the system is subjected to any unusual physical disturbance. As heretofore described, the ilow chamber Il is completely illled with gasoline at all times, and, as will be clear from the structure shown in clstern 24 vis likewise completely filled with gasoline at all times, there being no ilow through the cistern 24 however, even during operation of the system.` Inasmuch as the piston I4 is connected to the metering disc 21 so as to partake of the ymovements thereof due to variations in rate of flow of `the gasoline the flow chamber, the piston serves to dampen any abnormal movements of the metering disc due to sudden surges of gasoline in the fuel line or in the flow chamber by reason of unusual road conditions, "sudden increase or decrease in speed, or abrupt changes in direction of movement of thevehicle with which the system is used.

Fig. 2 has been found to be unusually satisfactory for dampening any abnormal movements of the metering disc. This is attributed largely to the peculiar structure of the dashpot wherein the piston is of annular form, thus permitting the passage of the liquid in the cistern over both the inner and outer surfaces thereof. Also, with such a structure, the frictional resistance due to -contact of the piston with other parts of the de- 1 vice is reduced to a minimum.

The operation of the various other elements of the system will be apparent from the above structural description. While a certain arrangement of the elements, as well as a certiiiinform of these elements, has been disclosed, it is to be understood that these forms and their arrangement are intended for illustrative purposes only and that my invention vcontemplates' such 4 changes therein as come within the scope of the vappended claims. It is to be understood further that, while it has been described in aform adapting it for use in indicating the rate of flow of a liquid fuel, the systemor parts thereof, is equally adapted for use with gaseous iiuids, and

The particular form of piston illustrated in for indicating me or uuid sow geeraiiy, without regard to the purpose for which the uid is employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a ow meter structure, a flow chamber comprising an outer tubular member, an inner tubular mer'nber concentrically arranged in the outer member and having one end secured to the adjacent end of the outer member to form an open-ended cistern, means for providing a ow of liquid through said inner member, a metering device in said inner member and movable in response to changes in the rate of flow of the liquid therethrough, an annular piston in said cistern, and connecting means between said piston and said metering device for imparting to said piston movements in response to the movements of said metering device.

2. In a ilow meter structure, a :dow chamber having a fluid inlet and a uid outlet, a tapered metering tube surrounding said inlet and extending into said chamber i'n spaced relation from the side wall thereof, an oriilce changing member movable in said tube in response to -changes in the rate of ow of fluid therethrough, and a ber, and apiston surrounding said tube and conv nected to s aid member for movement therewith to' dampen the movements of said indicator means. i

4. In a flow meter structure, a ilow chamber comprising an outer tubular member, an'interlorly tapered inner tubular member arranged centrally of and spaced from the outer member, a metering member movably supported in said inner tubular member, and an annular piston fixedly connected to said metering member and .movable in the space between said tubular members.

5. In a flow meter structure, a ilow chamber comprising an outer tubular member, an interlorly tapered .inner tubular member arranged centrally of and spaced from the outer member, a metering member movably supported in said inner tubular member, indicator controlling means xedly connected to said metering member, and an annular piston fixedly. connected to said indicator controlling means and movable in the spacebetween said tubular members.

6. In a ow meter structure, a flow chamber comprising an outer tubular member, an interiorly tapered inner tubular member arranged centrally of and spaced from the outer member and having one end secured to the outer member, a metering member movably supported in said inner tubular member, an annular piston movable in the space between said tubular members, and means for actuating said piston comprising a pair of oppositely arranged supports hingedly connected to said piston and xedly connected to said metering member. 

